Keep on top of your home maintenance by doing preventative jobs

The best way of keeping on top of your home maintenance & also keeping expensive costs down is to perform preventative jobs on a regular basis. If you inspect your home regularly & keep everything in good working condition, you will cut down on repairs (& costs of repairs) by nipping emerging problems in the bud.

Use this schedule to keep on top of your home maintenance.

(Please note, if you are unsure how to perform any task, please seek the help of a suitably qualified & certified trades-person)

Once a month

Clear leaves & any other debris from the garden path & anything resting against the walls of your home.

Scrub off any algae or moss away that may have accumulated on your paths.

Test batteries in your home smoke alarms & carbon monoxide testers. Remember these devices can save your life, is it really worth risking your life for the sake of a few pounds (or dollars in US) to renew your batteries.

Before you go to bed, pour a tablespoon of baking soda down all drains, plugholes etc.. followed by a cup of vinegar. Let it stand overnight & flush thoroughly with hot water

Check fire extinguishers for service date & that they are still fully charged.

If like me, you stock a range of different medicines (paracetamol, cough medicines etc..) check stock levels & also use by dates. Using out of date medicines can be very dangerous, it's not worth the risk.

Check 1st aid kits to ensure there are enough sticky plasters, anti-septic creams incase of any future accidents (very common if you have kids like me)

Open as many windows as possible for a few hours to give your home a good airing.

Every three months

Check for cracks in any masonry on the outside walls of the property. Fill these immediately with sealant & contact a local builder if you are worried they may be a problem.

Check area around washing machine & dishwasher for leaks. Also ensure the pipes are still tightly connected.

Clean the filter in your cooker hood.

Make sure all air vents are un-blocked to allow a good airflow throughout your home.

If you have radiators, it's a good idea to bleed these often to ensure these are working in optimum condition.

Every six months

Scrub off or clean any mildew or mould from window frames, in between tiles, ceilings etc..

Check for signs of water or air leaks in the home (& garage if you have one).

By following the steps in this simple plan, whilst not eradicating maintenance & repair costs, you can keep on top of jobs & have them repaired as soon as a fault is noticed & before it becomes an expensive job. You will have a safe & comfortable home by keeping on top of your home maintenance by doing preventative jobs.